Monday, August 14, 2017

[Botany • 2017] Saracha andina • A New Species of Saracha (Solanaceae) from the Central Andes of Peru

Saracha andinaRob. Fernandez, I. Revilla & E. Pariente, sp. nov. (Solanaceae), a new species endemic to the central Andes of Peru, is described here. The new species differs from other species of Saracha Ruiz & Pav. by the combination of small and coriaceous leaves and clearly tubular flowers. A summary of the taxonomic history of the genus Saracha, an identification key for its species and a phylogenetic analysis of this genus and related genera are provided.

Distribution and habitat: Saracha andina is a shrub endemic to the scrub and relict forests in the central Andes of Peru (Depts. Ayacucho, Huancavelica and Lima) at over 3500 to 4000 m in elevation (Fig. 2). Saracha andina grows in stony areas, on slight to moderate slopes, and near creeks. Populations of this species in the Ayacucho region have been recorded to occur in relict forest with a maximum height from 4 to 5 meters dominated by Polylepis microphylla (Wedd.) Bitter and accompanied by Escallonia myrtilloides L.f., sharing the understory with Berberis lutea Ruiz & Pav. and Hesperomeles obtusifolia (Pers.) Lindl.

Ecology: Flowering and fruiting from June to September. Characteristics of the flower suggest pollination by hummingbirds (Faegri and van der Pijil 1979). In the forest where S. andina was collected, we observed hummingbirds such as Metallura phoebe and Oreotrochilus estella, common species in relict forests of “Queñuales” (Servat at al. 2002). These birds may be pollinators of this new species.

Common name and uses: In Pachaca (Dept. Ayacucho) it is commonly known as “checc-ches” in where the native people mention that strong and straight branches had been used for yarning wool (pers. comm.).

Robin Fernandez-Hilario and Stacey D. Smith. 2017. A New Species of Saracha (Solanaceae) from the Central Andes of Peru. PhytoKeys. 85; 31-43. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.85.12607